Liposarcomas are malignant adiopocytic tumors of mesenchymal origin. They are the second most common type of soft tissue sarcomas after malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and constitute 15–20% cases of all soft tissue sarcomas which are commonly seen in extremities and in retroperitoneum. They are very rarely located in mediastinum, accounting for only less than 1% of all mediastinal tumors, the occurrence of pleomorphic variety of liposarcoma being even rarer. To the best of our knowledge, approximately 200 cases of liposarcomas are reported in mediastinum, in which only 20 to 25 cases categorized as pleomorphic variety. We report a case of giant Pleomorphic liposarcoma in anterior mediastinum extending into hemithorax on both the sides in an adult patient.

A 39-year-old male patient came to the outpatient department of Pulmonary Medicine, with chest discomfort and mild breathlessness of three months duration. There are no other cardiorespiratory symptoms like cough, fever, chest pain, palpitation or pedal edema.

The radiograph of chest showed large ill defined radiodense opacity, centered at mediastinum and extending into hemithorax on both sides (Figure 1a). On lateral radiograph, there is obliteration of retrosternal clear space indicating the anterior mediastinal location of mass lesion (Figure 1b).

Plain and contrast computed tomography (CT) scan of chest showed a large heterogeneous mass in anterior mediastinum (Figure 2a). The mass lesion was seen extending into anterior half of right hemithorax, from apex to diaphragm with partial collapse of right lung (Figure 2c). On left side, the mass is occupying most of the hemithorax, causing collapse of lower lobe and lingular segments of left lung (Figure 2c).

The mass showed predominantly fatty component with interspersed soft tissue component and few cystic areas and a dense nodular calcifications (Figure 2c). There is mild heterogeneous enhancement of the soft tissue component on IV contrast administration (Figure 2b, 2d).

The MRI scan confirmed the same findings and clearly depicted the fatty, soft tissue and cystic components (Figure 3). Encasement of the vessels was seen. There was pericardial invasion on left side.

Preoperative CT scan guided biopsy was done from the soft tissue component, which was not conclusive. Surgical exploration was done by mid sternotomy and the mass was excised. Partial pericardectomy was done. The mass adherent to the left chest wall was released and left lung was inflated. The total dimensions of the mass measured 34x26x17 cm, weighing 4.2 kg (Figure 4). The patient was given adjuvant chemotherapy.

Pathological examination of the surgical specimen showed mature adipose tissue with multivacuolated lipoblast and spindle shaped cells arranged in fascicular pattern with multinucleated histoid giant cells (Figure 5). These findings are consistent with pleomorphic liposarcoma.

Liposarcomas are malignant mesenchymal neoplasm which usually occur in adults during 5th to 6th decade, Well differentiated type is the most common. Liposarcomas are rare in children. Few cases are reported in literature [1] [2]. The most common variant in children is myxoid type [1]. Liposarcomas are classified by WHO in 2002, based on histological appearance into five sub groups (1) well differentiated, (2) dedifferentiated, (3) myxoid, (4) pleomorphic, and (5) mixed.

Clinically, patients are asymptomatic in initial stages, as the tumor grows in size, it results in nonspecific chest pain and breathlessness. Symptoms related to compression or invasion of adjacent organs may occur.

Chest radiography usually shows mediastinal widening or mass lesion. The findings of cross-sectional imaging depend on the histological type of liposarcoma.

Well differentiated liposarcoma is the least malignant variety of all liposarcomas, not usually associated with metastasis, and predominantly fat containing mass, constitutes more than 75% of tumor volume. The non fatty component is generally visualized as thick soft tissue with septations of more than 2 mm width, with occasional nodularity and calcifications. Well differentiated liposarcoma is also called atypical lipomatous tumor when it is superficial in location [3].

Dedifferentiated liposarcoma is a biomorphic neoplasm in which foci of high grade sarcoma arise within the well differentiated liposarcoma. So, it shares most of the imaging appearance of well differentiated liposarcoma, except that it displays a non-lipomatous component of at least 1 cm size, indicating the focus of dedifferentiation with a density similar to that of skeletal muscle. On contrast enhanced MRI scan, areas of dedifferentiation show heterogeneous or nodular enhancement, whereas the fat necrosis shows thin peripheral enhancement. Dedifferentiated liposarcoma is commonly located in retroperitoneum, mediastinum and inguinal regions, but uncommon in extremities [4].

Myxoid variety of liposarcoma shows predominantly gelatinous mass constituting fat less than 10% of tumor volume. The lesion may simulate a cyst on both CT and MRI scan, whereas ultrasonography is more useful in depicting the hypoechoic solid nature of tumor. The fatty component is seen as septations or small solid nodules within the lesion. The MRI scan is more sensitive in demonstrating the lipomatous component, with fat suppressed images being even more helpful. Extra-pulmonary metastases are more common in myxoid liposarcoma [5].

Pleomorphic liposarcoma is the most malignant variety, which has highest rate of recurrence and metastases [6]. It is seen as relatively well defined heterogeneous soft tissue mass with occasional areas of necrosis and hemorrhages. Being the most aggressive type of liposarcoma, it has the least amount of adipose tissue, when compared to other types of liposarcoma [4]. Due to relatively low quantity of adipose tissue, this tumor poses a difficulty in diagnosis on imaging and histopathology. Again MRI scan plays a major role in the detection of this minimal fatty component. Taking adequate tissue samples from both adipose and non adipose tissues is the key to accurate histopathological diagnosis [5].

Based on imaging manifestations of all these subtypes of liposarcoma, the unique feature to help in the diagnosis of all liposarcomas is the presence of fat. But the differentiation into subtypes depends on relative proportions and appearance of different constituents of the tumor. The other differentials of fat containing mediastinal masses are teratoma, thymolipoma, lipoma and pericardial fat pad.

In contrast to the classical imaging description of pleomorphic liposarcoma, the present case showed large amount of fatty tissue along with soft tissue component on both CT scan and MRI scan, and few cystic areas with dense nodular calcification. Mediastinal teratoma can be considered as a close differential diagnosis in present case, as it contains lipomatous, soft tissue, cystic components and calcifications.

Imaging plays a major role in determining the extent of tumor, involvement of adjacent organs, the evaluation of metastases and is of utmost help in guiding the biopsy, to collect tissue from both lipomatous and non-lipomatous components, which is important for accurate pathological diagnosis and planning of management.

Treatment and prognosis of liposarcomas mainly depend on histological grading, the anatomical location and extent of tumor. Complete surgical removal is the main stay of treatment for liposarcomas. For deep-seated lesions where complete surgical removal is not possible, surgery combined with radiotherapy will reduce local recurrence [7]. Chemotherapy may be added as adjuvant to surgical excision in histologically aggressive tumor subtypes like pleomorphic liposarcoma, which helps improve the survival rate [8]. In present case after surgery patient underwent six cycles of chemotherapy with doxorubicin and ifosfamide and no recurrence was found in six months follow-up.

Usually, well differentiated liposarcomas have good prognosis with no metastatic potential. Myxoid liposarcomas prognosis depends on round cell component in the tumor. In pleomorphic liposarcoma, recurrence and metastases are more common with a five-year survival rate of 40–50% [7].

Mediastinal liposarcomas constitute a very rare variety of mediastinal tumors. They have a wide spectrum of imaging manifestations depending on the histological subtype. However, presence of a lipomatous component is the most important clue for the diagnosis. Our case discusses an atypical presentation of pleomorphic liposarcoma, which showed a large fatty component on imaging. This emphasizes the need of image guided biopsy and careful pathological examination of both lipomatous and non lipomatous components of tumor for proper pre-operative diagnosis.

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